Automotive accessory



P 1936- J. T. WHALEN 2,053,646

AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORY FiledNov. 8, 1934 4Sheets-Sheetl al VENTOR ATTORNEYS J. TY

ALEN AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORY Filed Nov. 8, 1

v Sheets-Sheet 2 W /gym 8 ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1936. J. T. WHALEN 2,053,646

' AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORY Filed Nov. 8, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet 3 I 1/' 50 4 14 z; 2;; so zr a;

Sept. 8, 1936. J. T. WHALEN AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORY Filed Nov. 8, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS reamedas. 8,1936

2.05am AUTOMOTIVE accassonv John nwmnen, New York, my; Application November 3, 1934, Serlal'No. 152.105

' U o STATE-s Claims.

- The invention relates to newand'usefu1 means for use in lifting automobile axles preparatory to changing wheels and more particularly to such devices which are positioned or centered auto-' matically by the car.

Objects andadvantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, ormay'be learned by practice with the invention, the .same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. I

The invention consists in the novel parts, con- :structions, arrangements, combinations and im- Fig. 3 is a side view looking at Fig. 2 from the I right; i

Fig. 4 is atop plan corresponding to Fig. 1, and

showing the transverse portion, which cooperates directly with the wheel, folded over on the portion connecting with the; jack;. v

rod;

Fig. 5.is an elevation looking at Fig. than the.

bottom, with the device completely folded togetlier; j

Fig. 6 is a detached plan ofthe base to which:

the jack is pivotally connected;

Fig. 7 is. an enlarged elevation partly in section on the line l l of Fig. 4;

Fig; is a. perspective view of a modification wherein the jack is clamped ona rotatable base plate; i

Fig. 9 is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is an elevation of a modification of the wheel-engaging member;

' Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspectiveview of the left-hand end of Fig. 10;

'Fig. 12-is a plan corresponding to Fig. 11 with parts omitted; p p

- Fig. 13' is a perspective view of a modified form;

Fig. 14 is an elevation looking at Fig. 113 from the right;

Fig. 15 shows a crutchto hold the Jack cranking Fig. l6 is a perspective'of said Jack; and- Fig. 17 shows a modified form oi the wheel-engaging device.

The invention provides means for lifting an .automobile axle tochange' wheels wherein the jack is centered beneath the axle by the car it- P ENT FFI self, and the necessityof manually insertingand I centering the iack'beneath the axle is avoided,

and in accordance with certain features of the invention the device may be set upon the ground away from the car and the car driven so that the wheel rolling upon the device automatically centers the jack, preparatory to lifting the axle and the-wheel from the ground. The device of myinvention is also foldable into compact form I for packing or storage in the car, and is quickly and easily folded and unfolded between the operative and packing positions. In accordance with one feature of the invention, it may be embodied in a unitary device with the jack, or it may be manufactured and sold separately and 'used in connection with any jack. Other features of the invention will be described and pointed out hereinafter.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment r the invention illustrated by way of example in the i accompanying drawings, a jack I is exemplarily shown having the usual longitudinally movable lifting bar 2, and suitable operating means therefor, including the rotatable socket 3 mounted on a base 6. In certain figures of the drawings the Jack is shown pivotally connected to provide a unitary, device with the positioning and centering means, and inother figures the device is shown attachable to and detachable. from the jack, to be used with any jack, such as the Jack provided witha particular car. In the flrst-mentioned form (Figs. l-'7),-the jack is shown pivy .otally mounted on a base'8 'by'means of-a pivot ti connecting the-bottom plate [of the Jack and the'base-B, the base resting upon the ground or floor. By reason oi the pivotal mountin the jack can be turned so that it may'beoperated from the front, the, rear or the sideof the car.

The, embodied form of means operating between- ,the jack and a wheel whereby the wheel driven-or rolled onto the device centers-the jack beneath the axle, and spaces or positions the jack along Y the axle relatively to the wheel, is constructed so that the device is foldable into a relativelysmall space. As thus embodied, a fiat plate or bar I i is connected to the'base 8 by means of a hinge pin t2. The member i I is preferably variable in length to permit the jack to be positioned beneath the axleat different distances inwardly from the wheel. As embodied, the plate II is in two parts, the part jll, overlying the part it, and having a longitudinally disposed slot I5 through which headed. pins lB-a'nd- I'I project, the pins being fixed in the plate ll, their expanded heads holding the two plates together while permitting the v longitudinal sliding action.-

The'embodied form of holding meanscooperating to center the, Jack beneath the axle comprises a Wheel-Supporting plate It which is mounted transversely at the wheel-centering and outer end of the member 4 and is provided with means for effecting the centering automatically by rolling the wheel thereonto. This mechanism is likewise shown capacitated to fold with the parts previously described into a small compass for packing. As embodied, therefore, the plate 2| is pivotally mounted upon the outer end of the plate l4, at 22, so as to be movable from the transverse operative position into direct line with H for folding. For further folding for the sake of compactness, plate 2| is in two parts 24 and 25, which are connected together by a hinge joint 23, near the pivot 22. Alining or positioning lugs 26 and 21 serve to hold the bar 2| in operative position. In packing, the plate 24 is turned on hinge 23 and thereby is lifted away from lug 26 and will lie upon the plate 25. The two superposed plates 24 and 25 may then be rotated about pivot 22, away-from the other lug 21 and into alinement with the plate II, M. The folding and structure of the remaining parts will be later described. Mounted at either end of plate 2| is an upwardly extending, angular tracking, holding and centering device, the wheel riding up over an angled track at one end of plate 2|, and being stopped or held between the two angled devices, and thereby held or stopped with the jack centered beneath the axle. As embodied, these functions are effected by either of the devices, either one serving to ride the wheel on or to stop it in position, the mechanism thereby being double ended. As embodied, there are two groups of plates at either end of the member 2|. In both devices a short plate 29, of somewhat greater width than the plate 2| is hinged to the end of plate 2| at 30. A similar plate 3| is hinged to the opposite edge of plate 29, as shown at 32. Plate 3| is recessed at 34, and the plate 2| is correspondingly notched as shown at 35. The recess and notches hold the plates 29 and 3| in the inclined position shown in Fig. 1. If desired, a reversely inclined part 39 may be formed on plate 3| when it engages notch 35 to insure against slippage, as shown in Fig. 17. Thus the wheel will roll up over one of the devices and will drop between them and the jack is thereby automatically centered under the axle. When the device is in the position shown in Fig. 1 it can be set on the ground in the open either in front of or behind the car, and the car is driven to roll the fiat wheel onto the device, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus by merely driving the car forward or backward, the wheel will roll over one of the projections 29, 3| and will be stopped by the other, and thereby the jack I will be centered and firmly held beneath the axle, as already described. The actuating rod 36 may then be inserted in socket 3 to operate the jack in the usual manner to lift the axle and wheel for changing. The swivel mounting of the jack permits the device to be used for either a front or rear wheel. Before the jack is lowered one set of plates 29, 3| can be folded out fiat preparatory to the wheel rolling ofi on that side.

The folding of the device as mbodied for packing is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Referring to Fig. 1, the left-hand plate 3| is lifted from one set of notches 35 and is folded flat upon the member 24. In like manner the plates 29, 3| at the righthand end in Fig. 1 are folded fiat down upon the bar 25. The bar 24 is then rocked upwardly about hinge 23, is freed thereby from lug 26 and is laid down on top of the member 25 and on the right-hand extended plates 29, 3|. These parts '53 and 54 at the front and rear.

so folded are then rotated about the pivot 22, away from the other lug 21, until they are in line with the connecting member as shown in Fig. 4. The member II and all the superposed parts folded over thereon are then rocked upwardly about the hinge 2 into the position shown in Fig. 5, the device thereby being folded into a relatively small and compact space.

In Figs. 8 and 14 are shown certain modifications, which will now be described, it being understood, however, that these modifications are illustrative only, and are not exhaustive of the changes that may be made in the device as covered by the claims. In Figs. 8 and 9, the jack is shown separable. A base 4| corresponding to the base 4 is pivotally mounted at 42 upon the base plate 8, the jack being clamped by its base 43 to the plate 4|. For the purpose of holding jacks having bases of different sizes and centering the jack with the device irrespective of such difierence in size, a set of clamps 41 are provided, each clamp having a universal adjustment. As embodied, the plate 4| has upturned lips or edges Longitudinal slots 55 are formed in the lips and corresponding longitudinal slots 56 are formed in the plate 4|. The angled clamps 41 have fingers 59 which project into the corresponding slot 55 and the clamps have also a finger 60 which projects into the corresponding slot 55, as shown in Fig. 8. Clamping bolts 63 project through slots 64 formed in the overhanging part ofv the clamps 41, these bolts having nuts 66 threaded thereon beneath the clamp 41, whereby the ends of the bolts may be screwed down to clamp the jack base to plate 4|; The bolts 63 are movable longitudinally in their slots 64 to position them for different size bases. Thus a jack of any sized base may be centered on the device and firmly held in that position.

In Figs. l0, l1 and 12 the wheel-centering device is shown with a very wide range of size variation. In this form the plates 24 and 25 have cor responding extensions 24a and 25a, and these extensions have additional notches 35 near their outer ends. The plates 29 and 3| may thus be turned either inwardly or outwardly as shown in said figures to provide a greater or less space between them to accommodate wheels of difierent sizes.

In Figs. 13 and 14 a modification is shown wherein the jack is operated from the side as distinguished from the usual operation from the front or rear. As here shown, the jack is operated by a rod H which is universally jointed as shown at l2, l3 and 14, and the rod is housed within a box 15 fixed upon the plate 25. A double hinge is provided at 11 to permit the member 24 to fold over the box 75 for packing.

In Figs. 15 and 16 is shown a crutch 8| for holding the jack crank or actuating rod 36 from tipping to the ground and tilting the wheel engaging device. With this means, the jack crank may be inserted in the jack before the wheel is driven on. The crutch 83 has an orifice 84 through which the jack crank rod 36 is passed, and it has legs 85 and 8B which rest upon the ground.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limitedto the details of construction shown and described in connection with the present preferred embodiment, but changes may be made therein within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention or sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is: l

. 1. YA deviceffor centering alifting jack beneath an automobile axle including in combination a member connectabie to a jack, a member connectcdtosaid first-named memberand extending in the direction of. the wheel and means pivotally mounted thereon for' engaging the automobile -wheel at either side of its bottom point to center it and aline the jack beneath the axle, said it 1 automobile wheel is rolled, said member having otally-mounted means having downwardly and outwardly inclined faces for acting as ramps to facilitate positioningof the wheel.

i v v 2. A lifting jack centering device adapted-to beset-on the ground before or'behindan auto mobile, and including in combinationa member connectable to a Jack and amemb'er connected to said first named member and upon which an I pivoted thereto projections over one of which the .wheel rolls and by the other of which it is stopped to center the wheel and alin'e the jack beneath the axle, means for holding said projections in elevated position during engagement of the wheel,

the projections being movable from saidelevated position to releasethe wheel or' to facilitate packing.

3. A lifting jack centering device adapted to be i set on the ground before or behind an automobile ta'te movement of the wheel and packing of the and-including in combination a member rotatably connectable to a jack and extending in the direction of the axle, a member connected to said first named member and extending in the direction of the wheel and onto e' which the wheel may be rolled said member having projections over one of which the wheel rolls and by the other of which it is stopped to center the wheel and aline the jack beneath'the axle, at least one of said projections being movable relative to said member to facilidevice. a

4; A lifting jack centering device adapted to be set on the ground before or behind an automobile and including in" combination a member connectable to a jack and a member connected to said first named member and upon which an automobile wheel is rolled, said member having pivoted thereto projections over one of which the wheel rolls and by the other of which it is stopped to center the wheel and alinethe' jack beneath the axle one of said projections being collapsible preparatory to rolling the wheel oil from the device.

5. A device for centering a lifting jack beneath an automobile axle including in combination a member rotatably'connectable to'a jack and extending in the direction of the axle, a member" lack, a member connected thereto and extending. in the direction of the axle, a member connected to said first named member and extending in the direction of the'wheel arid having means for engaging with the 'wheel to center it and aline-the jack beneath the axle, said means be'ing movable into elevated position to engage the. wheel and movable out of said position.

'7. An apparatus for centering a liftingjack beneath an automobile axle including in combination a device connectable to a Jack, a-connecting.

r v 3 member extending therefrom alongthe axle, and a wheel-engaging member attached to said connecting member and movable into transverse position to' be engaged by the wheelto center the jack under the axle and movable into -alineinent with saidbonnecting member for packing. 8. An apparatus for centering a lifting-jack beneath an-automobile axle-including in combina-' tion adevice'connectable to a jack, a connecting member extending therefrom along the axle, and

' a wheel-engaging member attached to said connecting member and movable into transverse position to be engaged by the wheel to center thejack 1 under the axle and movable into alinement with said connecting member for-packing, saidwheehengaging'member being medianly'hing'ed to fold uponitself. H V Y A device for centering a liftingjack beneath an automobile axle including-in combination a *jack, a'member extending from the jack, a mem: "ber connected to said first-named member and adapted to be engaged by the wheel to center the jack under the axle, said first-mentione'd-mem- "her. being fcldable alongside the 'jack for pack-' ing, and said second member being movable into alinement with said first-mentioned member for pack 10. A device ior'centering' a lifting jack beneath an automobileaxle including in combination a jack, a member extending from the jack, 1 a memberconnected to said first-named memberand adapted to be engaged by the wheel to center the jack under the axle, said-first-mentioned member being foldable alongside the jack and said two members being movable into alinement for packing.

'11. A device-for centeringa lifting jack be-. neath an automobile axle including in combi-. nation a jack-supporting base and means for pivotally' mounting the jack thereon, a a spacing and centering bar 'pivotally connected to the-base and means for varying the length of said spacing bar, wheel centering and holding meanscomprising a wheel supporting plate pivotally connected centrally to the other end of said spacing and centering bar, said wheel supporting plate being in two parts, hinged together near said pivot connection, and at either end of said wheel supporting plate'a tracking, holding and centeringdevice',

each of said devices comprising aplate hingedto the end of said wheel supporting plate, a third plate hinged to the outer end of said'second'plate,

and means for holding said second and third plates in elevated angled position upon said wheel supporting plate at either end thereof, and for pacl-ring, the plates of said tracking, holding and centering devices being foldabie flat upon said wheel supporting plate, the wheel supporting plate I being foldable' upon itself and swingable in its folded position into line upon said spacing bar, andsaid spacing bar and base being foldable toward each other irrespective of whether-thejack v is mounted on the base or has been removed.

12. A device for centering a lifting jack'beheath an-automobile axle including in'combination a jack-supporting base,.a spacing and cen-' tering bar pivotally connected to the base and a means for varying the length of said spacing bar', wheel centering. and holding means comprising a wheel supporting plate pivotally connected centrally to the other end ,of said spacing and centering bar, said wheel supporting plate'being in two parts, hinged together nearsaid pivot connection, and at either end of said wheel supporting plate a tracking, holding and. centering device,

each of said devices comprising a plate hinged to the end of said wheel supporting plate, a third plate hinged to the outer end of said second plate, and means for holding said second and third plates in elevated angled position upon said wheel supporting plate at either end thereof, and for packing, the plates of said tracking, holding and centering devices being foldable flat upon said wheel supporting plate, the wheel supporting plate being foldable upon itself and swingable in its folded position into lineupon said spacing bar, and said spacing bar and base being foldable toward each other irrespective of whether the jack is mounted on the base or has been removed.

13. A device for centering a lifting jack beneath an automobile axle including in combination a jack-supporting base and means for pivotally mounting the jack thereon, a spacing and centering bar pivotally connected to the base, wheel centering and holding means comprising a wheel supporting plate pivotally connected centrally to the other end of said spacing and centering bar, said wheel supporting plate being in two parts, hinged together near said pivot connection, and at either end of said wheel supporting plate a tracking, holding and centering device, each of said devices comprising a plate hinged to the end of said wheel supporting plate, a third plate hinged to the outer end of said second plate, and means for holding said second and third plates in elevated angled position upon said wheel supporting plate at either end thereof, and for packing, the plates of said tracking, holding and centering devices being foldable flat upon said wheel supporting plate, the wheel supporting plate being foldable upon itself and swingable in its folded position into line upon said spacing bar, and said spacing bar and base being foldable toward each other irrespective of whether the jack is mounted on the base or has been removed.

14. A device for centering a lifting jack beneath an automobile axle including in combina tion a jack-supporting base, a spacing and centering bar pivotally connected to the base, wheel centering and holding means comprising a wheel supporting plate pivotally connected centrally to the other end of said spacing and centering bar, said wheel supporting plate being in two parts, hinged together near said pivot connection, and at either end of said wheel supporting plate a tracking, holding and centering device, each of said devices comprising a plate hinged to the end of said wheel supporting plate, a third plate hinged to the outer end of said second plate, and means for holding said second and third plates in elevated angled position upon said wheel supporting plate at either end thereof, and for packing, the plates of said tracking, holding and centering devices being foldable fiat upon said wheel supporting plate, the wheel supporting plate being foldable upon itself and swingable in its folded position into line upon said spacing bar, and said spacing bar and base being foldable toward each other irrespective of whether the jack is mounted on the base or has been removed.

15. A device for centering a lifting jack beneath an automobile axle including in combination a jack-supporting base, a spacing and centering bar pivotally connected to the base, wheel centering and holding means comprising a wheel supporting plate pivotally connected centrally to the other end of said spacing and centering bar and at either end of said wheel supporting plate a tracking, holding and centering device, each of said devices comprising a plate hinged to the end of said wheel supporting plate, a third plate hinged to the outer end of said second plate, and means for holding said second and third plates in elevated angled position upon said wheel supporting plate at either end thereof, and for packing, the plates of said tracking, holding and centering devices being foldable flat upon said wheel supporting plate, the wheel supporting plate being swingable into line upon said spacing bar, and said spacing bar and base being foldable toward each other irrespective of whether the jack is mounted on the base or has been removed.

16. A device for centering a lifting jack beneath an automobile axle including in combination a Jack-supporting base, a spacing and centering bar pivotalLv connected to the base, wheel centering and holding means comprising a wheel supporting plate pivotally connected centrally to the other end of said spacing and centering bar, and at either end of said wheel supporting plate a tracking, holding and centering device, said devices comprising plates pivotally connected together and to said wheel supporting plate, and adapted to project upwardly at either end of the wheel supporting plate and to lie along it for packing.

17. A device for centering a lifting jack beneath an automobile axle including in combination a jack-supporting base, a spacing and centering bar connected to the base, wheel centering and holding means comprising a wheel-supporting plate pivotally connected centrally to the other end oi said spacing and centering bar and at either end of said wheel supporting plate a tracking, holding and centering device, said devices comprising plates'pivotally connected together and to said wheel supporting plate, and adapted to project upwardly at either end of the wheel supporting plate and to lie along it for packing.

18. A device for centering a lifting jack beneath an automobile axle including in combination a member connectable to a jack, and a connected member engaged by the automobile wheel to center it substantially at ground level and aline theiack beneath the axle, said connected member comprising a thin fiat plate for underlying the wheel on the ground and having spaced-apart elevations between which the wheel 'is engaged.

19. A device for centering a lifting jack beneath an automobile axle including in combination a member connectable to a jack, and a permanently connected member engaged by the automobile wheel to center it and aline the jack beneath the axle said member having spacedapart elevations between which the wheel is engaged, with downwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces to hold and center the wheel and with downwardly and outwardly inclined surfaces to act as ramps in positioning the wheel.

20. A device for centering a lifting jack beneath an automobile axle including in combination a member connectable to a jack, and-a connected member engaged by the automobile wheel to center it and aline the jack beneath the axle, said member having spaced-apart elevations between which the wheel is engaged, at least one of said elevations being collapsible to facilitate movement of the wheel onto or oil the member.

JOHN T. WHALEN. 

